Insta360 Ace Pro Action Camera: A Comprehensive Review

• Gadget

Insta360 launched two new action cameras just in time for the holidays - the Ace and the Ace Pro. These single-lens action cameras have somewhat flown under the radar. They find their place in the middle of Insta360's tiny camera lineup, a notch below the high-end One RS with Leica mod but a step above the tiny Go 3.

"The perfect action camera for the right kind of videographer."

The Ace Pro doesn't seem to replace Insta360's previous action cam, the One RS. Instead, it takes some elements from the One RS and some from the Go 3, creating a hybrid camera that is functional, fun, and often better than the competition.

Ace Pro's Unique Features

The standout features of the Ace Pro are its Leica lens and flip-up screen. The 16-mm (full-frame equivalent) wide-angle f/2.6 lens is co-developed with Leica. Though this lens is small, it is robust and often superior to the GoPro Hero 12 or the DJI Action 4. The flip-up screen, borrowed from the Go 3, adds to the convenience of the camera.

Comparison with GoPro Hero 12 and DJI Action 4

When stacked up against the GoPro Hero 12 or DJI Action 4, the Ace Pro holds its ground quite well. It offers 4K video and up to 8K resolution (limited to 24 fps), which no other action cam can match. However, it lacks the detachable camera-only unit of the Go 3.

Note: The 8K feature was not enabled during testing and is expected to be added in a future update.

Video Quality and Stabilization

While the overall video quality from the Ace Pro is good, some softness in the corners was noticed at times when shooting in 4K. Video stabilization in the Ace Pro is on par with its rivals, thanks to Insta360's FlowState formula. However, an external microphone could improve the Ace Pro's audio quality.

Vlogging with Ace Pro

With its flip-up screen, the Ace Pro is an excellent vlogging action cam. It's easy to frame shots of yourself and monitor shooting from the waist. However, it's worth noting that there is no option to record a Log video on the Ace Pro.

Note: The Ace Pro's sharpening is set to a high degree by default, which might not be suitable for all types of footage. Dialing the sharpening back to medium or low for non-social video use cases is advised.

Battery Life and Weight

Battery life on the Ace Pro is commendable, recording 4K 30 footage for 82 minutes. However, the Ace Pro is slightly heavy at 6.3 ounces (180 grams), which might be noticeable when mounted to a helmet.

Price Considerations

The Ace Pro is priced at $450, $50 more than a GoPro or Action 4. Whether the higher price is justified depends a lot on your use case. If you're looking for a hybrid camera that can handle action sequences or selfie videos and offers excellent color, the extra $50 is well worth it.

Final Verdict

It's an excellent time to be an action camera user. Whether you buy an Ace Pro, Action 4, or GoPro Hero 12, you'll have a camera capable of delivering excellent footage.